JP4119068B2 - Camera control system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a camera control system in which a monitoring camera device and a turning device cooperate to automatically control turning speed adjustment, zoom value adjustment, and the like.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional surveillance camera system, when a camera device is turned by a turning device, for example, the camera device is turned automatically at a predetermined turning speed so as to direct the camera device to several monitored points. However, it is not expected to obtain an appropriate image during the turn by monitoring by this method.
[0003]
On the other hand, when the camera device and the turning device are controlled manually, it is necessary to turn by the turning device while watching the image based on the zoom value of the camera device. There was a problem that it was bothersome.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made as a solution to the problems in the conventional surveillance camera system as described above, and its purpose is to adjust the turning speed and the zoom value in cooperation between the monitoring camera device and the turning device. It is providing the camera control system which controls automatically.
[0005]
A camera control system according to the present invention is a camera control system including a camera that obtains image information, a turning device that turns the camera, and an operation device that gives control information to the turning device. The image processing is performed on the obtained image information, and the calculation means for calculating the spatial frequency by calculating the average of the frequencies included in one screen, and swirling for each of the spatial frequencies so that the turning speed increases as the spatial frequency decreases. A memory table in which speed information is associated and stored, and a turning speed for searching the memory table and determining a turning speed by obtaining turning speed information associated with the spatial frequency calculated by the calculating means A turning means for performing turning control of the turning device at a turning speed determined by the turning speed determining means. Characterized by comprising a control means.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of a camera control system according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a camera control system according to the present invention. This system includes a camera body 1, a turning device 2 that turns the camera body 1, and an operation device 3 that controls the camera body 1 and the turning device 2 and obtains image information from the camera body 1.
[0010]
The camera body 1 includes a camera zoom mechanism unit 11 including an optical system, an image acquisition unit 12 configured by an imaging element such as a CCD, and a camera control unit 13 that controls each unit. The camera control unit 13 is provided with a control information storage unit 14 in which control information for controlling an imaging state of the camera such as a zoom value and sensitivity is stored.
[0011]
The turning device 2 includes a turning control unit 21 that performs control related to turning, and a turning mechanism 22 that is controlled by the turning control unit 21 to turn the camera body 1. The turning control unit 21 is provided with a control information storage unit 23 in which control information for controlling the turning speed is stored.
[0012]
The operating device 3 is normally provided at a position away from the camera body 1 and the turning device 2, and the operating device 3, the camera body 1, and the turning device 2 are connected via a line 4. The operation device 3 includes an operation control unit 31 that sends control information to the camera body 1 and the turning device 2 and receives image information from the camera body 1. The operation control unit 31 is connected to an input unit 32 including a keyboard for inputting various types of information such as control information, and a display unit 33 for displaying control information and the like. The display unit 33 may display not only information related to operations such as control information but also an image based on image information sent from the camera body 1.
[0013]
In the above configuration, the control information storage unit 23 of the turning device 2 and the control information storage unit 14 of the camera body 1 are provided with two memory tables as shown in FIG. In this system, a standard mode in which the camera body 1 is turned at a predetermined turning speed regardless of a zoom value, a camera-priority mode in which the turning speed is controlled according to the imaging state of the camera body 1, and turning in the turning device 2 is performed. There is a turn-priority mode for controlling the imaging state such as the zoom value of the camera body 1 in accordance with the speed, and any one of these three modes can be selected by the operation device 3.
[0014]
The selection operation is performed based on the flowchart shown in FIG. When the operator inputs a mode selection instruction from the input unit 32 of the operation device 3, an inquiry display of “whether to use the standard mode” is displayed on the display unit 33 (S1). In response to whether the standard mode is set from the input unit 32, for example, "YES" is input (S2). If the standard mode is not set in the above, for example, “NO” is input from the input unit 32. As a result, an inquiry display “whether or not camera side priority mode is selected” is displayed on the display unit 33 (S3). When the camera side priority mode is set in response to this, zooming is performed together with, for example, “YES” from the input unit 32. At least one of a value and a sensitivity is input and set (S4). If the camera-side priority mode is not selected in step S3, for example, “NO” is input from the input unit 32. As a result, the display unit 33 displays an inquiry about “whether the mode should be prioritized to turn”. In response to this, when the mode is to be prioritized on the camera side, the turning speed is input and set from the input unit 32 (S5). ). The zoom value, sensitivity, and turning speed are input by inputting arbitrary numerical values or by selecting and displaying candidates.
[0015]
When the mode selection is completed as described above, information indicating that the mode is the standard mode, the camera-side priority mode, at least one of the zoom value and sensitivity, the rotation priority mode, and the rotation speed information are obtained. The operation control unit 31 sends the information to the camera control unit 13 and the turning control unit 21 via the line 4. The camera control unit 13 and the turning control unit 21 execute processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 upon receiving information indicating that the mode is the standard mode, the camera-side priority mode, and the turning priority mode. . That is, it is detected whether the information is the standard mode information (S6). When the information indicating the standard mode is received, the standard mode for turning the camera body at the standard turning speed is executed (S7). If information indicating that the mode is the standard mode cannot be detected in S6, it is determined whether the information indicates that the mode is the camera-side priority mode (S8). The camera-side priority mode for controlling the turning based on the zoom value and sensitivity is executed (S9), and if no information indicating that the camera-side priority mode is detected in step S8, the turning-priority mode is set. Since the information to the effect has arrived, a turning priority mode is executed to control the zoom value and sensitivity on the camera side based on the set turning speed (S10). When information about the turning priority mode and turning speed is sent, the turning control unit 21 takes in the turning speed information and stores it in the control information storage unit 23. On the other hand, when at least one piece of information indicating that the mode is the camera-side priority mode, the zoom value, and the sensitivity is sent, the camera control unit 13 captures the zoom value sensitivity information and stores it in the control information storage unit 14.
[0016]
<Standard mode>
When the standard mode is selected in the above mode selection, the turning control unit 21 controls the turning mechanism 22 using the rotation speed information corresponding to the standard mode preset in the control information storage unit 23 in step S7. Then, the camera body 1 is turned. When this standard mode is being performed, the operator inputs the zoom value and sensitivity at the desired timing in the operation device 3 and sends them to the camera body 1 for zooming in the camera zoom mechanism 11 and sensitivity handling in the image acquisition unit 12. It is possible to control the signal accumulation time.
[0017]
<Camera-side priority mode>
When the camera-side priority mode is selected in the above mode selection, the turning control unit 21 of the turning device 2 performs processing corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, in the camera-side priority mode, at least one piece of information on the zoom value and sensitivity is stored in the control information storage unit 14 by the camera control unit 13, so that the turning control unit 21 can set the zoom value or sensitivity. Is changed, the information stored in the control information storage unit 14 of the camera control unit 13 is captured. Here, a case where only the zoom value is stored will be described. Accordingly, when the zoom value is changed by the camera zoom mechanism 11, the zoom value information stored in the control information storage unit 14 is fetched (S11).
[0018]
As described above, the control information storage unit 23 of the turning device 2 is provided with two memory tables as shown in FIG. The memory table T1 is a table in which the turning speed corresponding to the zoom value is stored, and the memory table T2 is a table in which the turning speed corresponding to the sensitivity is stored. Therefore, the turning control unit 21 searches the memory table T1 to obtain the turning speed corresponding to the zoom value information obtained from the camera control unit 13 (S12), and controls the turning speed information as the currently used turning speed. The information is stored in the information storage unit 23 (S13). Further, the turning control unit 21 controls the turning mechanism 22 based on the information of the currently used turning speed set in the control information storage unit 23, and executes the turning of the camera body 1 (S14).
[0019]
The camera control unit 13 detects whether or not the zoom value has been changed by the camera zoom mechanism 11 (S15). If there is a change, the process proceeds to step S11, and the turning control unit 21 starts a new operation from the control information storage unit 14. Capture the zoom value and repeat the operation as described above. Further, an inquiry is made as to whether or not the zoom value has been changed (S15), and a change is awaited. Thus, the camera body 1 is turned at the turning speed corresponding to the zoom value. In other words, the larger the zoom value, the more slowly the vehicle is turned, thereby preventing problems such as an image flowing.
[0020]
In the above description, the case where only the zoom value is stored in the control information storage unit 14 has been described. However, when only the sensitivity is stored in the control information storage unit 14, the “zoom value” in FIG. The operation based on the flowchart using the memory table T2 is performed. As a result, the camera body 1 is turned at a turning speed corresponding to the sensitivity, and the higher the sensitivity is, the longer the image accumulation time in the image acquisition unit 12 is, and accordingly, the turning is performed gently. It is possible to prevent problems such as obtaining an image for which the necessary accumulation time cannot be secured.
[0021]
Next, a case where both the zoom value and the sensitivity are stored in the control information storage unit 14 will be described. In such a case, the zoom information and the turning speed correspond to the sensitivities a1, a2,..., An as shown in FIG. The attached memory tables MT1 to MTn are provided and used. Then, the turning control unit 21 of the turning device 2 performs processing corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0022]
In the camera-side priority mode, at least one information of the zoom value and the sensitivity is stored in the control information storage unit 14 by the camera control unit 13, so the turning control unit 21 requests the camera control unit 13. The sensitivity information stored in the control information storage unit 14 is fetched (S21), and one of the memory tables MT1 to MTn corresponding to this sensitivity is determined (S22). Next, the same process as the camera priority process according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is executed (S11 to S15). In the camera priority process in S11 to S15, an operation for obtaining the turning speed is performed using any one of the memory tables MT1 to MTn selected in step S22.
[0023]
If it is determined in step S15 of the camera priority process that there is no change in the zoom value and the process branches to NO, a request is sent to the camera control unit 13 to inquire whether the setting sensitivity has been changed ( S23) Wait until the set sensitivity is changed.
[0024]
<Turning priority mode>
When the turn priority mode is selected in the above mode selection, the camera control unit 13 of the camera body 1 performs processing corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, in the turn priority mode, the turning speed information is stored in the control information storage unit 23 by the turning control unit 21, so that the camera control unit 13 can change the turning control unit 21 when the turning speed changes. Information on the turning speed stored in the control information storage unit 23 is fetched (S31).
[0025]
Here, a case where only the zoom value is controlled according to the set turning speed will be described. The control information storage unit 14 of the camera body 1 is provided with two memory tables as shown in FIG. The memory table T1 is a table in which the turning speed corresponding to the zoom value is stored, and the memory table T2 is a table in which the turning speed corresponding to the sensitivity is stored. Therefore, the camera control unit 13 searches the memory table T1 to obtain a zoom value corresponding to the turning speed information obtained from the turning control unit 21 (S32), and controls this zoom value information as a currently used zoom value. The information is stored in the information storage unit 14 (S33). Further, the camera control unit 13 controls the camera zoom mechanism unit 11 based on information on the currently used zoom value set in the control information storage unit 14, and executes zoom (S34).
[0026]
The turning control unit 21 detects whether or not the turning speed has been changed by the turning mechanism 22 (S35). If there is a change, the process proceeds to step S31, and the camera control unit 13 starts a new turn from the control information storage unit 23. Capture the speed and repeat the action as described above. Further, an inquiry is made as to whether or not the turning speed has changed (S35), and the process waits until there is a change. Thus, the zoom value is controlled according to the turning speed, and problems such as an image flowing can be prevented.
[0027]
In the above description, only the zoom value is controlled based on the turning speed. However, in addition to this, only the sensitivity can be controlled based on the turning speed, or the zoom value and the sensitivity can be controlled based on the turning speed. It is also possible to do so. It is assumed that an instruction is given from the operation device 3 as to which of these is performed. When only the sensitivity is controlled based on the turning speed, the “zoom value” in FIG. 8 is changed to “sensitivity” and an operation based on the flowchart using the memory table T2 is performed. As a result, imaging is performed with a sensitivity corresponding to the turning speed, so that an image with an appropriate sensitivity can be obtained in accordance with the turning speed.
[0028]
Next, a case where the zoom value and sensitivity are controlled based on the turning speed will be described. In such a case, as shown in FIG. 6, the control information storage unit 14 of the camera control unit 13 corresponds to the sensitivity values a1, a2,. The attached memory tables MT1 to MTn are provided, and the memory table T2 already shown in FIG. 2 is used. And the camera control part 13 of the camera apparatus 1 performs the process corresponding to the flowchart shown in FIG.
[0029]
When the turning speed changes, the camera control unit 13 takes in the turning speed information stored in the control information storage unit 23 of the turning control unit 21 (S41). Then, the memory table T2 is searched to obtain the sensitivity corresponding to the turning speed (S42). Next, one of the memory tables MT1 to MTn corresponding to this sensitivity is determined, and the camera control unit 13 controls the image acquisition unit 12 so as to achieve the sensitivity corresponding to this sensitivity, and performs image information scanning processing. Control is performed (S43). Next, the same processing as the turning priority processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is executed (S31 to S34). In the turn priority processing in S31 to S34, an operation for obtaining a zoom value is performed using any one of the memory tables MT1 to MTn selected in Step S42.
[0030]
Then, in step S44, it is determined whether or not the turning speed according to the setting has been changed (S44), and when branching to NO, the process waits for the turning speed to be changed.
[0031]
<Image support mode>
Next, a camera control system according to an embodiment having a mode (image corresponding mode) for changing the turning speed according to image information obtained in the camera body 1 will be described. The configuration of this system is as shown in FIG. 1. For example, the camera control unit 13 has a function of calculating a spatial frequency for the image information acquired by the image acquisition unit 12. Here, the spatial frequency calculation is obtained, for example, by performing a discrete Fourier transform such as a two-dimensional Fourier transform, and the camera control unit 13 uses this calculation result to calculate an average or a ratio of frequency components included in one screen. Ask.
[0032]
Of the frequency components obtained by the Fourier transform, the low frequency component corresponds to a rough change in the image, and the high frequency component corresponds to the information of the portion where the density rapidly changes. For this reason, when the average or ratio of the frequency components of one screen is obtained, it is possible to detect whether there is a large amount of density change and a large amount of information in this one screen, or whether there is a small amount of change and a small amount of information in one screen. For example, when there are few people, there are many low frequency components, and when there are many people, there are many high frequency components.
[0033]
Further, the control information storage unit 23 in the turning control unit 21 of the system according to this embodiment includes a memory table T3 as shown in FIG. The memory table T3 stores the turning speed corresponding to the spatial frequency (here, average). And since the camera control part 13 and the turning control part 21 perform the operation | movement corresponding to the flowchart shown by FIG. 11, this operation | movement is demonstrated below. Note that the image correspondence mode can be executed by inputting an instruction from the operation device 3.
[0034]
When the image corresponding mode is instructed and this mode is started, as described above, the camera control unit 13 calculates the spatial frequency (average value) regarding the image of the screen currently being captured (S51). Next, the spatial frequency is sent from the camera control unit 13 to the turning control unit 21, and the turning control unit 21 searches the memory table T 3 provided in the control information storage unit 23 and turns corresponding to the spatial frequency. The speed is obtained (S52), and this turning speed is set in the control information storage unit 23 as the turning speed currently used (S53). Further, the turning control unit 21 controls the turning mechanism 22 based on the information of the currently used turning speed set in the control information storage unit 23, and executes the turning of the camera body 1 (S54).
[0035]
Next, in step S55, the turning control unit 21 detects from the number of steps of the pulse motor of the turning mechanism 22 whether the turning at a predetermined angle has been made (or detects a change in the imaging target range such as elapse of a predetermined time). ). Here, when a turn of a predetermined angle is detected, the process proceeds again to step S51 to execute the above processing. The detection is continued when the turn of a predetermined angle is not made.
[0036]
In this way, the turning speed can be automatically changed according to the content of the image on the screen, and when the number of objects to be monitored increases, it contributes to reducing the turning speed and performing an accurate monitoring activity.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
According to the camera control system of the present invention, the turning speed is controlled in conjunction with the frequency related to the change in the screen content obtained by the camera, so the turning speed is automatically changed according to the content of the screen. It is possible to conduct appropriate monitoring activities.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a camera control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the contents of a zoom value-turning speed correspondence memory table and a sensitivity-turning speed correspondence memory table used in the camera control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a mode selection operation performed by an operator in the camera control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation at the time of mode selection in the camera control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the camera priority mode by one parameter correspondence in the camera control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a zoom value-turning speed correspondence memory table for each sensitivity used in the camera control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the camera priority mode by the two parameter correspondence in the camera control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the turn priority mode by one parameter correspondence in the camera control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the turn priority mode based on two parameters in the camera control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a view showing the contents of a memory table used in the image correspondence mode in the camera control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the operation in the image corresponding mode in the camera control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Camera main body 2 Turning apparatus 3 Operation apparatus 4 Line | wire 11 Camera zoom mechanism part 12 Image acquisition part 13 Camera control part 14 Control information storage part 21 Turning control part 22 Turning mechanism 23 Control information storage part 31 Operation control part 32 Input part 33 Display Part

Claims (1)

A camera control system comprising a camera for obtaining image information, a turning device for turning the camera, and an operation device for giving control information to the turning device,
Calculating means for performing image processing on image information obtained by the camera and calculating a spatial frequency by calculating an average of frequencies included in one screen;
A memory table in which turning speed information is stored in association with each of the spatial frequencies so that the turning speed increases as the spatial frequency decreases ;
Searching this memory table, turning speed determining means for determining the turning speed by obtaining turning speed information associated with the spatial frequency calculated by the calculating means,
A camera control system comprising: a turning control means for performing turning control of the turning device at a turning speed determined by the turning speed determining means.

Images